Wave Study #2 – Oil on Canvas Panel – 9.5 x 11 inches

This is the second painting in a series of studies I’ve been doing on ocean waves. In this one I’ve been trying to capture the different shadows and lights on the ocean surface and within the wave breaks as well. The hardest part is to know when to let it go and stop painting. Trying to keep working on the details often causes the painting to become over-worked. On the other hand, not working the details enough might leave the painting in a state that does not deliver the entire idea.

Towards the end I added the rocks as a way to fill some areas I was not truly happy with. I think the rocks came out too dark and kind of disconnected from the rest of the scene. However, overall the painting did come out pretty good in the end.